ASSISTANT COACH

Tom Barrise is in his 17th season with the New Jersey Nets and his eighth full season as an assistant coach. Tom joined the assistant coach ranks in January, 2004 when Lawrence Frank took over as head coach.

Prior to his current position, Barrise served as the Nets' advance scout for eight seasons. His work and insight were key elements for the Nets coaching staff during the team's two consecutive trips to the NBA Finals with regards to their preparation of the game plan for the team's upcoming opposition.

Barrise has a long and varied connection with basketball, on both the collegiate and professional levels. Prior to joining the Nets, Tom was the head basketball coach for three seasons (1992-95) at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey, while also performing advance scout duties for the Cleveland Cavaliers (1992-96). His basketball coaching odyssey also includes stints at St. Peter's College, Fairfield University, East Carolina University, Jacksonville University, William Paterson College and Fairleigh Dickinson University.

A native of Paterson, New Jersey, Barrise was a two-sport athlete at Fairleigh Dickinson University (soccer and basketball), from where he earned a B.A. in education.

Tom has one son, Taylor, a senior at Amherst, and currently resides in Ramsey, New Jersey.